Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins admits people might not expect his answer when they find out the toughest player he’s faced.
Watkins, who featured for England at this summer’s European Championship, sat down with Sky Sports to take part in the ‘Sticker Book Challenge’.
Here, he created his perfect sticker book from some of his best memories as a player, his best friend at Aston Villa and the ‘ultimate’ Premier League striker, amongst other categories.
Another subject was his toughest opponent, with Watkins being tasked to pick between four players; Thiago Silva, Max Kiman, Ruben Dias and Virgil van Dijk.
The 28-year-old said: “Some games I feel like I’ve got the better of [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Ruben] Dias so the toughest one will be Thiago Silva.”
Silva made 151 appearances for Chelsea during his four-year spell at Stamford Bridge, and lifted the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Earlier this year, the experienced Brazilian defender confirmed his departure from Chelsea in an emotional interview.
Watkins may well have breathed a sigh a relief after Silva announced the news.
“I’ve never had a good game against him to be honest,” Watkins said. “I just felt like he knew whatever I was going to do, he was just one step ahead, and obviously he’s experienced. He’s played at the highest level for so many years.”
The striker added: “I feel like whenever people ask, they probably don’t expect me to say him. But yeah, he’s definitely the toughest.”
Image credit: Getty
Silva joined Brazilian club Fluminense this summer after an enjoyable stint in England’s top flight.
Speaking about his Stamford Bridge exit in April, he said: “Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years. Not just for me but for my family, too.
“My sons play for Chelsea so it’s a source of great pride to be a part of the Chelsea family – literally because my sons are here. I hope they can continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be part of.”
He added: “[It’s been a] dream, definitely a dream. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
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